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ATLANTA -- More than 20 Metro Atlanta arts organizations have launched a unique collaboration to increase interest in the area's robust arts and culture offerings.

Dubbed "Atlanta Art Lives Here," the campaign uses local arts trivia and branding images to educate North Georgians about their many opportunities to enjoy the arts. It is funded competely by the participating organizations and spearheaded by Atlanta PlanIt, a service of Public Broadcasting Atlanta.

"Arts organizations are experiencing new and unique funding challenges," Nicole Jones, editor of Atlanta PlanIt, said in a statement. "Weak public funding, combined with a decline in attendance, loss of corporate gifts, a decrease in local media coverage and sentiments of 'there's nothing to do in Atlanta,' make it necessary for each organization to find unique ways to minimize the costs while maximizing impact. This collaboration is working to shirk those sentiments."

The participating arts groups contributed a total of more than $20,000 to cover the costs of creative execution and media buys for Atlanta Arts Lives Here. Such a hefty price tag would be unaffordable for most of the organizations if they were working alone.

Atlantans can expect to encounter billboards, radio spots and print advertisements as early as the end of September.

"Local arts organizations need increased support to continue to grow and thrive," Jones said. "Our hope is that this campaign will remind Atlantans just how crucial the arts are to the vitality of the city and energize them to support the arts in their community."